Wells gets to catch up with his old pals

ANAHEIM – Vernon Wells' two sons used to run through the Angels clubhouse, messing around and meeting their father's teammates. Mike Trout got to know them well.

As a veteran outfielder, Wells helped Trout navigate the big leagues when Trout first reached the majors in 2011.

"Him and Torii (Hunter)," Trout said before Friday's game. "They were always guys that I could go to. They played the game for a long time and always led me in the right direction."

Wells played the past two seasons for the Angels before getting traded to the New York Yankees this spring. Friday marked Wells' first return to Angel Stadium since the trade, against the team he called a "second family." Trout and other Angels said they were looking forward to catching up with Wells, seeing how his family and his sons, ages 8 and 11, were doing.

As an Angel, Wells struggled to meet his and fans' expectations. He hit just .208 with 13 home runs in 375at-bats at Angel Stadium the last two years.

"Whether he had a rough day or night before, he came out with a positive frame of mind and said, 'I'm going to help us win today,'" Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Maybe fans don't see that side of it. But he didn't take it easy when he was struggling. And he knows he's a better player than he showed with us."

Wells, who entered Friday hitting .229 with 10 home runs, received a smattering of boos and cheers from a crowd split between Angels and Yankees fans as he came up for his first at-bat Friday, a flyout to left field.

Later, he unleashed a perfect throw to nail Albert Pujols at the plate and keep the score tied in the sixth.

Wells said he had a strange feeling of suiting up in the visitor's clubhouse. But the transition to the Yankees has not been difficult, having been in a similar situation when the Toronto Blue Jays traded him to the Angels.

"You understand the business side of the game and that's something I got a crash course in learning early on in my career," Wells said.

Wells still keeps in touch with many of his former teammates in the Angels clubhouse. Catcher Chris Iannetta said he and Wells exchange texts and phone calls now and then.

When Angels catcher Hank Conger took a tumble while running down the first-base line on a single against Baltimore on May 5, it provided an opportunity for Wells to contact him and take part in the comedic moment.

This weekend is a chance for Wells to catch up with those old friends in person.

"We had a blast together," Wells said. "It's your second family. You spend so much time with these guys, you get to know them."